Matt Lawrence

Inequality and the American Dream was one of the most thought-provoking courses I have taken, offering a deeper look into the social, political, and economic factors that shape opportunity and mobility in the United States. The class explored both the promise and the limitations of the American Dream, questioning to what extent it is accessible across lines of race, class, gender, and geography. Through a combination of readings, lectures, and discussions, we examined key issues such as income inequality, educational access, housing disparities, and the influence of public policy on life chances. One of the strengths of the course was its interdisciplinary approach. The professor drew on sociology, economics, history, and political science to paint a fuller picture of inequality. We read both classic works and contemporary studies, which allowed us to trace how the concept of the American Dream has evolved over time. The inclusion of personal narratives, documentaries, and data analysis assignments made the material especially engaging and relatable. Class discussions were central to the learning experience. Students were encouraged to voice their perspectives and connect course material to current events, from debates over student debt to the effects of gentrification. This created a lively and respectful classroom atmosphere where we could wrestle with difficult questions about fairness, meritocracy, and systemic barriers. The assignments were challenging but rewarding. Reflection essays required us to apply theory to personal or observed experiences, while research projects pushed us to investigate a specific dimension of inequality in depth. These tasks sharpened critical thinking and writing skills while making the course material feel highly relevant. Overall, this course broadened my understanding of inequality in America and forced me to reconsider the idea of the American Dream. It is a class I would recommend to anyone interested in social justice, policy, or the realities of contemporary American life.

Inequality and the American Dream was one of the most thought-provoking courses I have taken, offering a deeper look into the social, political, and economic factors that shape opportunity and mobility in the United States. The class explored both the promise and the limitations of the American Dream, questioning to what extent it is …Read more

This class is great and although the writing is very intense and time-consuming, Matt splits it up into parts over the semester which makes it much easier to complete. The course is based on a pilot project that many students develop into their senior thesis. He made the components very clear and was always available to help with the writing and research. It is definitely a bit more challenging than other research methods courses at Middlebury as you have to actually conduct a large portion of research but it is still an enjoyable course!

This class is great and although the writing is very intense and time-consuming, Matt splits it up into parts over the semester which makes it much easier to complete. The course is based on a pilot project that many students develop into their senior thesis. He made the components very clear and was always available to help with the …Read more

Matt is awesome! Research methods is definitely not the most exciting of topics in the soc department, but this class was structured really well and I learned a lot. The class is based around a pilot research project where you get to pick your own topic and conduct preliminary research and ends with a research paper.